Display container



Nov. 7,1939. R. E. LOWEY -r AL 2,179,075

DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed April 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Nov. 7, 1939.

R. E. LOWEY El AL DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed April 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY CONTAINER aware Application April 2, 1938, Serial No. 199,618

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to containers for shipping and display p rposes and more particularly to a container which will not only effectively protect the contents thereof during shipment, but one which can be converted into a display container with a minimum amount of eiiort when it is desired to display the contents of the container on a retailer's counter.

One object of the invention is to provide a container comprising a tray section and a telescoping cover section which completely encloses the top and sidesof the tray, the cover when removed from the tray section being adapted to be readily formed into a supporting stand for the reception of the tray section so as to hold same in an inclined position in which its contents ma be effectively displayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container having telescoping cover and tray sections, in which the cover sections walls are provided with lines of severance and with folding lines adjacent thereto whereby the cover, which during transportation serves to completely enclose the top and sides of the tray section, may be readily converted into a stand or supportting element for the tray by properly severing the walls and inwardly bending parts thereof to form auxiliary supporting edges for the cover sections.

Other and more specific objects of the present invention will become apparent in the following description and will be set forth in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container, made in accordance with the present invention, showing certain portions partly broken away, and illustrating the container as formed ready for shipment;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, illustrating the manner of supporting the tray section of the container within angularly disposed surfaces provided by forming the cover section of the container into tray supporting position;

Fig 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-8 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank which forms the cover of the container of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a closure section somewhat modified from the form illustrated "in Figs. 1 to 4, and illustrating the closure as it appears looking up into it at an angle from below.

The present invention provides a container (01. MiG-44) which is well adapted for the shipment of small packages or articles of food or other materials which it is desired to fully protect during shipment, and at the same time the present invention provides an efiective display construction 5 -hoxboard.

The cover and tray sections may each be formed from a single blank of folding boxboard or other suitable paperboard. The blank for the tray sec- 20 tion may be similar in outline to the blank for the cover. A particular description of one of the sections, in the present instance the cover section, is. considered sumcient.

The cover section I (see Figs. 1 and 4) comprises a main panel 8, side wall panels 4 and 5, and other side wall panels, being for convenience referred to as, end panels 6 and I. In order to provide suitable connecting means for the end and side walls, the end walls 6 and I are, in the present instance, provided with flaps 8, 8 and 9, 9 defined from such walls by the score lines indicated. The side walls 4 "and 5 are provided with flap extensions III and I I, respectively, which are defined from such walls by the score lines indicated. When the end and side walls are to be connected, the end wall flaps 8, 8 and 8,. 9 are folded inwardly and the flap extensions I II and I I are then folded over the end wall flaps, after which staples, indicated at I2, I 2, are inserted through the assembled parts to hold them in permanent relationship The tray section as above indicated, may be formed in the manner just described.

In order to form the cover section of the container so that it may readily be converted into a support for the tray section, the main panel 3 of the cover section is preferably creased or scored, as indicated at I3, and the end walls 6 and 'I are preferably provided with lines of severance, herein illustrated as weakened lines I4 and I5, extending from the lower free edges of the end walls to the line of juncture of the end walls with the main panel.

The crease line I 3 separates the main panel 3 into subpanels indicated at 3a and 3b. The lines of severance l4 and I5 in the end walls 6 and 1 separate such walls into sections 6a, 6b and la, 1b, respectively. The lines of severance l4 and I5 are formed in alignment with the crease line l3 in the main panel 3.

The end walls 6 and 7 are preferably provided with crease lines enabling sections of said walls to be readily bent to provide auxiliary supporting edges inclined at an angle to the line of juncture between the end walls and the main panel 3. In the present instance, section 6a and la on the end walls 6 and I are provided with crease lines [6 and I1 respectively, and the sections 6b and lb are provided with crease lines l8 and i9 respectively, so as to provide two sets of inclined, auxiliary supporting edges in these sections arranged to cooperate so as to cause the sub-panels 3a and 3b of the main panel 3 to assume an angular position relatively to each other upon placing the cover section in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

When it is desired to convert the cover section of the box into a display support for the bottom tray, the end walls 6 and I are preferably severed or broken along the lines l4 and I5, whereby the sections 5a, 5b and sections 1a, lb of the end walls 6 and l are separated from each other. The outer triangular portions of the sections 6a and 6b will then be folded inwardly so as to provide an auxiliary supporting edge along the crease lines 5 and N3 of end wall 6 and a similar supporting edge along crease lines l1 and I9 of end wall I, thus enabling the cover to assume into the shape indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the modified form of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 5, the cover section is indicated at 3| and comprises a main panel 33, side walls 34 and 35, end walls 36 and 31, such side and end walls being connected together by suitable means such as comer fiaps as illustrated in the form of the invention first described. The end walls 36 and 31 are preferably formed with slits 38 and 39 extending from the free edges of the end walls to the line of juncture between the end wall and the main panel 33. The main panel 33 is provided with a crease line 40, which extends from the ends of the slits 38 and 39. Crease lines 4| and 42 are formed in end wall 36, and similar crease lines 43 and 44 are formed in the end wall 31. When the cover is to be put into use as a closure, it will be slipped over the tray section of the box (which may be substantially the same form as the tray section shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3) and a strip of. tape, indicated at 45, is preferably secured around the closure and, if desired, also along the bottom of the tray section. The tape will be placed so as to be disposed directly over the slits 38 and 39 so as to hold the sections of the end walls together during transportation of the container.

If desired, the tape 45 may be marked or printed with a line so as to substantially coincide with the slits formed in the respective end walls, whereby the line on the tape 45 will constitute a line of severance. Directions may, if desired, be printed on the cover section or upon the tray indicating that tape is to be slit, or as an alternative, directions may be printed upon the tape or upon the box indicating that the tape is to be removed instead of being slit.

When it is desired to form the closure of this form of the invention into a display holder, it is necessary, as above indicated, to slit or remove the tape over the surfaces of the end walls 36 and 31 whereby the end walls are formed into two sections 36a, 36b, and 31a, 31b. The next step is to fold inwardly the triangular portions of. the corners of the sections 36a, 36b and 31a, 31b, and then fold the main panel 33 along the crease line 40 until the edges of the folded portions of the end walls 31 and 36 assume a straight line which will be the case when these edges are placed upon a flat supporting surface. The cover, at this time, is in a position to support the tray section of the container in an inclined position, similar to the manner indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The present invention is found to be particularly advantageous in the shipment of material such as canned goods, cookies, wafers and small articles that are best sold by having them displayed on a retail counter. The container of the present invention provides a very sturdy and durable form of container which will stand hard usage in transportation and at the same time will provide a very neat appearing display. The cover section of the container is of such a nature as to completely protect the tray section from entry of dust and dirt. Due to the provision of complete side and end wall panels during shipment of .the container it will stand considerable hard usage during shipment and still preserve the tray section intact. After the cover section has been removed from the tray section and the walls, which are provided with severable sections, are conditioned, either by severing the walls along the weakened lines, as in the first form of the invention, or by removing the tape from, or slitting same along the walls, as illustrated in the second form of the invention, it is a very simple matter to fold inwardly the triangular portions of the separated wall sections, whereby the cover is formed into a display support. After the cover section has been formed into a display support the tray section can be very effectively supported for the display of the contents thereof, particularly where the assembly is placed upon a retainers counter.

It is to be noted that the inturned triangular portions on the side wall sections not only tend to stifien the sections but also provide a sturdy auxiliary supporting edge due to the fact that the triangular portions will lie flat upon the supporting surface beneath the cover section after it has been conditioned for a display support.

Where reference is made herein to side walls and 'end walls, it is to be understood that these terms are used in a relative sense. The invention is not limited to constructions in which the walls of the cover section which are provided with lines of severance are shorter in extent than the remaining oppositely disposed walls.

While the present description sets forth certain preferred embodiments of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A container formed of two telescoping sections, one of which constitutes a bottom tray and the other a cover, the cover section comprising a main panel and four side walls joined thereto and to each other, two opposite side walls of the cover section being each formed with a weakened line extending from the lower free edge or the cover side wall to a point in the line of juncture between said side wall and the main panel, the main panel having a fold line extending between the ends of the weakened lines of the side walls, each side wall provided with a weakened line also being formed with fold lines therein, one on each side of the weakened line and disposed in angular relation thereto, said fold lines extending from points in the free edges of the cover side walls to the point where the weakened lines of the respective side walls meet with the fold line in the main panel of the cover, said side walls being symmetrically formed with fold lines, whereby when the cover panel side walls are severed along the weakened line and the portions of said side wall lying between the iold lines and said weakened line are folded back in the direction of the underside of the main panel of the cover, the latter may be caused to assume a dihedral angular shape to thus adapt the cover to receive and support the bottom tray in an inclined postion.

2. A container formed of two telescoping sections, one of which constitutes a bottom tray and the other a cover, the cover section comprising a main panel and four side walls joined thereto and to each other, two opposite side walls of the cover section being each formed with a line of severance extending from the lower free edge of the cover side wall to a point in the line of juncture between said side wall and the main panel, the main panel having a fold line extending between the ends of the lines of severance of the sidewalls, each side wall provided with a line of severance also being formed with fold linestherein, one on each side of the line of severance and disposed in angular relation thereto, said fold lines extending from points in the free edges of the cover side walls to the point where the lines of severance of the respective side walls meet with the fold line in the main panel of the cover, said side walls being symmetrically formed with fold lines, whereby when the cover panel side walls are severed along the line of severance and the portions of said side wall lying between the fold lines and said line of severance are folded back in the direction of the underside of the main panel of the cover, the latter may be caused to assume a dihedral angular shape to thus adapt the cover to receive and support the bottom tray in an inclined position.

ROY E. LOWEY. EARL C. POTI'ER. 

